Martel uses the zebra in Life of Pi to indicate that even in the face of death, animals have an innate desire for life. According to Martel, no amount of determination can overcome inherent vulnerability. Living creatures are born either predators, dominant and powerful, or prey, cursed to a life of vulnerability. The vulnerable-born life can fight against all odds, can possess unparalleled willpower, and can radiate beauty in the midst of tragedy, but they can never change their status as a victim to predation. From the zebra’s first appearance in the novel, Martel establishes the animal as a victim. He uses the animal to help readers picture the cruelty of man, describing “a zebra stabbed with a sword” as an example (Martel 29). Zebras are a victim to more than just the sword of man. Human poachers frequently target zebras for their beautiful skin and occasionally meat. Human agriculture also destroys their natural habitat, and as humanity builds more farms every year, zebra populations drop every year (African Wildlife Foundation). This pattern of the zebra as an inherent victim also repeats throughout the novel. In chapter 43 Martel reminds readers of the zebra’s place in the food chain as “a familiar prey” (Martel 113). Zebras are born prey, naturally vulnerable to hyenas, lions, and other wild African cats (AllAnimal.org). Furthermore, the zebra suffers immensely aboard the life raft, especially once the hyena discovers it. The predator eats off his victim's leg, leaving only “a flap of skin [which] hung limply over the raw stump” (Martel 120). Though despite its unfortunate position in the natural predator-prey relationship, the zebra does not give up. It continues to fight the hyena with wild kicks and bites, its "hoof beating against the side of the boat" (Martel 125). The animal’s determination astonishes and horrifies Pi, “I had no idea a living being could sustain so much injury and go on living” (Martel 128). Although ultimately, the zebra’s will to live does not help it overcome its inherent place as prey. The animal dies shortly thereafter, “glassy-eyed” (Martel 128). Despite its determination to fight and will to live, the zebra dies just like it was born: a victim fragile as glass. Life is fragile. Martel's zebra demonstrates that no amount of determination can overcome the inherent vulnerability of life, but the struggle to survive when faced with death connects the zebra to Pi and to mankind. Often an animal's will to survive is more powerful than its ability to survive. As the zebra proves, this harsh truth of nature can be difficult to accept.
References from the Novel
“The cruelty [of man] is often more active and direct … a zebra stabbed with a sword; and other assaults on other animals” (Martel 29)
“We came to the zebras. [Muslim] Mr. Kumar had never heard of such creatures, let alone seen one. He was dumbfounded.” (Martel 83)
“‘They’re called zebras,’ I said. ‘Have they been painted with a brush?’ ‘No, no. They look like that naturally.’ ‘What happens when it rains?’ ‘Nothing.’ ‘The stripes don’t melt?’ ‘No.’” (Martel 83)
“The zebra’s thick, strong, black lips” (Martel 83)
“touched the zebra’s soft nose” (Martel 83)
"'The Rolls-Royce of equids,' said Mr. Kumar. 'What a wondrous creature,' said Mr. Kumar. [...] I said, 'It's very pretty.'" (Martel 84)
“leaping with the grace of a racehorse. The zebra missed the tarpaulin. It was a male Grant, weighing over five hundred pounds.” (Martel 105)
“be called a burst of barking, a kwa-ha-ha, kwa-ha-ha , kwa-ha-ha put out at the highest pitch of distress. The creature’s lips were widely parted, standing upright and quivering, revealing yellow teeth and dark pink gums.” (Martel 105)
“zebra’s head thrashing about.“ (Martel 106)
“I was surprised to see that the zebra was still alive. It lay near the stern, where it had fallen, listless, but its stomach was still panting and its eyes were still moving, expressing terror” (Martel 109)
“It was a lovely animal. Its wet markings glowed brightly white and intensely black.” 50
“the strange fact that Richard Parker had not killed it. In the normal course of things he should have killed the zebra. That’s what predators do: they kill prey … The zebra should have been properly butchered.” (Martel 109)
“zebra, a familiar prey” (Martel 113)
“The zebra, by comparison, swiftly reared its head and barked” (Martel 114)
“ Even the zebra, which at first snorted each time the hyena raced by its head, fell into a stupor” (Martel 115)
“in reaching for a bite of zebra, a hyena will take in the ear or nostril of a clan member” (Martel 117)
“At times the zebra made noises about the predator just behind it, but mostly it lay in hopeless and sullen silence” (Martel 117)
“A flap of skin hung limply over the raw stump. Blood was still dripping. The victim bore its suffering patiently, without showy remonstrations. A slow and constant grinding of its teeth was the only visible sign of distress.” (Martel 120)
“such a big, strapping creature it wasn’t at the end of its ordeal” (Martel 120)
“A strip of hide came off the zebra’s belly like gift-wrap paper comes off a gift, in a smooth-edged swath, only silently, in the way of tearing skin, and with greater resistance. Barking, snorting and squealing, the zebra came to life to defend itself” (Martel 125)
“the helpless zebra” (Martel 126)
“The zebra was still alive. I couldn’t believe it. It had a two-foot-wide hole in its body, a fistula like a freshly erupted volcano, spewed half-eaten organs glistening in the light or giving off a dull, dry shine, yet, in its strictly essential parts, it continued to pump with life, if weakly. Movement was confined to a tremor in the rear leg and an occasional blinking of the eyes. I was horrified. I had no idea a living being could sustain so much injury and go on living.” (Martel 128)
“The zebra was dead by noon. It was glassy-eyed and had become perfectly indifferent to the hyena’s occasional assaults.“ (Martel 128)
Physical Characteristics
Zebras are black with white stripes
Can weigh up to 770 pounds
Have stripes to blur outline from predators
Stripes confuse predators via motion dazzle- stripes make a herd appear to be one large mass
Stripes unique to each zebra
Stripes discourage flies and also help keep zebra cool (repel 70% of incoming heat)
Have great stamina; can walk, trot, canter, and gallop
Have excellent eye sight and night vision along with excellent hearing ability; also acute smell and taste
Zebras with black and white stripes existing together commonly represent harmony and balance of opposites
Because they are always alert to predators, Zebras also symbolize the need for protection and security
Zebras can represent individuality and uniqueness, as no zebra stripe pattern is like another
Zebras always travel together to create the illusion of one large creature, so they can symbolize strength in teamwork
Stripes blur a Zebra's outline and confuse predators with illusion- Zebras symbolize the magic of illusion and shortfalls of trusting only what one sees
Martel uses the zebra in Life of Pi to indicate that even in the face of death, animals have an innate desire for life. According to Martel, no amount of determination can overcome inherent vulnerability. Living creatures are born either predators, dominant and powerful, or prey, cursed to a life of vulnerability. The vulnerable-born life can fight against all odds, can possess unparalleled willpower, and can radiate beauty in the midst of tragedy, but they can never change their status as a victim to predation. From the zebra’s first appearance in the novel, Martel establishes the animal as a victim. He uses the animal to help readers picture the cruelty of man, describing “a zebra stabbed with a sword” as an example (Martel 29). Zebras are a victim to more than just the sword of man. Human poachers frequently target zebras for their beautiful skin and occasionally meat. Human agriculture also destroys their natural habitat, and as humanity builds more farms every year, zebra populations drop every year (African Wildlife Foundation). This pattern of the zebra as an inherent victim also repeats throughout the novel. In chapter 43 Martel reminds readers of the zebra’s place in the food chain as “a familiar prey” (Martel 113). Zebras are born prey, naturally vulnerable to hyenas, lions, and other wild African cats (AllAnimal.org). Furthermore, the zebra suffers immensely aboard the life raft, especially once the hyena discovers it. The predator eats off his victim's leg, leaving only “a flap of skin [which] hung limply over the raw stump” (Martel 120). Though despite its unfortunate position in the natural predator-prey relationship, the zebra does not give up. It continues to fight the hyena with wild kicks and bites, its "hoof beating against the side of the boat" (Martel 125). The animal’s determination astonishes and horrifies Pi, “I had no idea a living being could sustain so much injury and go on living” (Martel 128). Although ultimately, the zebra’s will to live does not help it overcome its inherent place as prey. The animal dies shortly thereafter, “glassy-eyed” (Martel 128). Despite its determination to fight and will to live, the zebra dies just like it was born: a victim fragile as glass. Life is fragile. Martel's zebra demonstrates that no amount of determination can overcome the inherent vulnerability of life, but the struggle to survive when faced with death connects the zebra to Pi and to mankind. Often an animal's will to survive is more powerful than its ability to survive. As the zebra proves, this harsh truth of nature can be difficult to accept.
References from the Novel
Physical Characteristics
Common Characteristics/Traits/Habits
Natural Habitat
Common Symbolism